¡°See with the hearts to appreciate paintings properly, otherwise we are
deaf and blind though we see and hear.¡±

Special Lecture on Korean Paintings provides readers with a
comprehensive and readable introduction to major aspects of old Korean
arts. The volume explores the vast heritage of Korean paintings,
providing a rich panorama of information that stretches across the
entire spectrum of Korean paintings, which will have wide appeal, not
least to art lovers and students of Korean Studies.

The book is largely composed of three parts: Part I, Principles for
Appreciation of Old Korean Paintings, introduces basic principles for
appreciation of Korean art. The author suggests to see old Korean
paintings through the eyes of the past and feel them with the heart of
the past; Part II, Heart of the Ancestors Expressed in Old Paintings,
explains the life and wisdom of Koreans of the past, including their
view of the universe and life based on the theory of yin and yang and
the Five Elements; Part III, History and Culture in the Joseon Period
Examined through Old Paintings, presents the beautiful and truthful mind
of old Koreans revealed in their portraits and paintings. The author
contends that old Korean portraits or calligraphy works were a true
reflection of the spirit and mind of the people, whereas today¡¯s
counterparts are devoid of such spirit. To add more, the appendix to
this book covers the art and life of Kim Hong-do, who was lauded by
contemporaries as a ¡°national artist,¡± including 12 of his
representative works.

Throughout the book, the author takes a humanities approach to various
topics, ranging from the climate, history of Korea, and Chinese poetry
to human spirit and aesthetics of Korean people. Also, he maintains his
objectivity as an art historian and, at the same time, takes great pride
in the Korean history and culture, and such attitude and narrative will
make you feel as if you¡¯re right in middle of the lecture and really
listening to him while you¡¯re just reading this book.

Recommended by US Korean Embassy as the BEST guide to Korean art &
culture

Contents

Preface
In the Beginning

First Session: Principles for Appreciation of Old Paintings
See with the Eyes of the Past,
Feel with the Heart of the Past
Second Session: Hearts of the Ancestors Expressed in Old Paintings
View of the Universe and Life Based on
Yin and Yang and the Five Elements in Nature
Third Session: History and Culture in the Joseon Period
Examined through Old Paintings
The Beautiful and Truthful Hearts of Joseon

Wrapping Up
[Appendix]
Kim Hong-do¡¯s Life and Art Seen through his Paintings
Is there a Kim Hong-do in our age?

Prologue
1. Superhuman realism: Tiger underneath a Pine Tree
2. Diversity in subject matter and meaning: Orange Kitten Playing with a
Butterfly
3. Ideal true-view landscape: Bright Moon Rising in Sparse Woods
4. Warm-heartedness: Aesthetic Enjoyment of Nature in a White Robe
5. Unwavering identity: Taoist Boy Playing the Flute
6. Rich education in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and music:
Looking at Plum Trees from a Boat
7. Delicate sensibility: Listening to Nightingales on a Horse Ride
8. Wit and humor: Crabs Coveting Reed Flowers
9. Service for the state: Royal Procession Arriving at Siheung Temporary
Palace
10. A work for a monarch: The Full Moon Shining on the Water
11. Truthfulness of a genre painting: Wrestling
12. Encounter of art and religion: Buddhist Invocation for the Western
Paradise
Epilogue
Rulers of the Joseon Dynasty

About the Author

Oh Ju-seok majored in Eastern history and earned his master's degree in
Archaeology and Art history at Seoul National University. Before taking
up teaching positions at Chung-Ang University and Yonsei University, he
was an art writer for the Korea Herald, an English-language daily, and
curator at Ho-Am Art Museum and the National Museum of Korea. He had
toured the country giving lectures on the beauty of Korean art. His
publications include The Joy of Reading Old Korean Paintings I & II, The
Art of Kim Hong-do, The Golden Age of Korean Culture, and Yi In-mun¡¯s
Mountains and Rivers without End. He passed away of leukemia in 2005.